Tokyo: My Superpower Refreshes Every Week

The morning breeze brushed by.

Ayatsuki Ayaka stood there like the Hachiko statue in front of Shibuya Station, motionless.

Her eyes were fixed on Aozawa, bright and sparkling as if light was encapsulated within them.

Aozawa was silent for a moment before scratching his head and asking, "Iroha, what kind of answer do you want to hear from me?"

Ayatsuki Ayaka put her hands on her hips and said, "Yes."

"You can speak English too?"

"Don't underestimate me. I can say a few phrases, like 'apple,' for instance."

Ayatsuki Ayaka quickly countered, then realized she was diverting the topic. Her eyes widened as she said, "Aozawa, don't change the subject. What's your opinion about me forging a brand-new, third path?"

Aozawa felt a headache coming on.

He knew that Ayatsuki Ayaka usually seemed very mild and easy to handle, as if she had no temper.

But at critical moments, Ayatsuki Ayaka never lacked courage; in some respects, she was even braver than him.

He simply couldn't bring himself to say something about publicly wanting to change someone's personality.

"Iroha, once people grow up, they can't turn back into children."

"Nothing's impossible in this world. Before today, I couldn't imagine myself kissing you, but now I can imagine it—no, I can do it!"

Saying this, Ayatsuki Ayaka grabbed Aozawa's shoulders, stood on her tiptoes, leaned in, and pressed her soft lips against Aozawa's.

It was a forceful move.

She had often heard descriptions from Saeko and others.

But when it came to the actual act, Iroha's mind was still a blank.

She understood nothing, just naively pressing her mouth against Aozawa's, as if trying to fuse their lips into one.

Then she realized it wasn't possible.

Then, Ayatsuki Ayaka chose to pull away, retreating three steps backward.

She looked at Aozawa, who remained standing in his spot. A smile touched her tan cheeks as she shaped her hands like a megaphone and declared, "Aozawa, I like you! Very, very much!

That's why I have to correct your strange worldview.

You belong only to me!

Remember, your first kiss was with me—Ayatsuki Ayaka!"

With that, she turned and ran towards the school building, a blush spreading from her cheeks to her earlobes. Even the oncoming wind could not cool its heat.

This move was an unexpected event.

According to her plan, she was supposed to just say a few words and finish her confession. But spurred by the atmosphere, she decided to refute Aozawa's assertion of "impossible" by employing her trump card.

As it turned out, there aren't so many impossibilities in the world if one can just muster the courage; even things previously thought impossible can happen.

On the morning of June 7th, she, Ayatsuki Ayaka, officially lost her first kiss and also claimed Aozawa's—probably his first kiss, right?

A sliver of doubt flashed through her mind.

Aozawa watched as Ayatsuki Ayaka's figure disappeared into the school building, then reached up to touch his lips. Iroha's kiss lacked the maturity of Chitose's, yet its freshness carried a taste of youth.

His heart started to thump rapidly.

He licked his lips, longing for another.

---

Something's not right.

Phoenix Academy Maggie glanced at the back door of the classroom. Ayatsuki Ayaka had run in alone, her expression filled with joy.

Completely different from her dazed look yesterday. Had something good happened just now?

She thought to herself while looking down at Hojo Tetsuji's manga manuscript, finding it hard to focus.

It wasn't that the plot was terrible, but her mind was no longer on it; instead, she began to speculate about what good thing might have happened to Ayatsuki Ayaka.

While she was contemplating, Aozawa entered through the classroom's back door, heading straight towards her.

Phoenix Academy Maggie turned her head and said, "Take a look. Tetsuji's manga will officially start serialization next Monday."

"Finally, the day has come. We must treat him to a cola."

Aozawa smiled, looking at Hojo Tetsuji, who was napping on his desk. Aozawa pulled out a chair and sat down.

Phoenix Academy Maggie said casually, "Ayatsuki Ayaka seems really happy today. Did something interesting happen?"

"If you mean did something happen, then yes, something did—but it's a secret that can't be shared."

"Then let's trade secrets."

"This isn't a secret that can be traded."

Aozawa shook his head; he didn't want to tell Phoenix Academy Maggie that he had just been forcefully kissed by Ayatsuki Ayaka.

A look of scorn flashed across Phoenix Academy Maggie's face, and she whispered, "Looking at that smug expression on your face, I know it's not a 'good' secret.

Forget it, I won't hold it against you.

Do you believe in the existence of Paradise?"

"Before seeing Paradise, if I hope it exists, then it exists. If I don't hope for its existence, then it doesn't."

Aozawa spread his hands.

This philosophy was exactly like Phoenix Academy Maggie's. Her face broke into a radiant, sun-like smile, and she said softly, "Well said. Now, let me tell you an incredible secret.

Yesterday, according to information obtained by the Phoenix Academy family, the world's only known superpower user, Dio, personally stated his desire to reach Paradise. He also said that only those who reach Paradise can attain true happiness.

Dio is causing trouble in Tokyo because he wants to reach Paradise."

"Do you believe what he said?"

Curiosity flickered across Aozawa's face.

Phoenix Academy Maggie thought for a moment, crossed her arms, and leaned her upper body's weight on Aozawa's desk, smiling. "If Dio is Dio, then what he says is very likely true.

If Dio isn't Dio, then his words are probably just a joke.

So, do you think Dio is Dio?"

"Maggie, it's a waste of your talent not to be reciting tongue-twisters," Aozawa said with a laugh, pretending not to catch the insinuation in her words.

Phoenix Academy Maggie's eyes flashed with a scrutinizing look, but she didn't pursue the topic. Instead, she said, "My mother firmly believes Dio's words, and it's caused some trouble in political and business circles.

If Paradise exists, then God, the Nordic deities, and the like might also exist.

The prophecies about the end of the world can't be dismissed as lies as easily as before.

Just because one person uttered a sentence, it caused the world to tremble.

Such is Dio's status.

Aozawa, do you want to become someone like that?"

"If one had the ability, anyone would want to be that person."

Aozawa's reply seemed to say something, and yet nothing at all.

Phoenix Academy Maggie stared at him, and he calmly met her gaze.

DING-DONG-DONG. The bell for class rang, finally giving Phoenix Academy Maggie an excuse to look away. The moment she turned around, any doubts had already been dispelled by the wild thumping of her heart.

When they were looking directly at each other, she had been too absorbed in his handsome face to consider whether Aozawa was lying or not.

That was a miscalculation.

She muttered to herself, shifting her focus back to her studies.

---

The class ended quickly, and it was the break between classes.

Ayatsuki Ayaka wasn't in the classroom; instead, she leaned against a window in the hallway.

The wind blew in from outside, carrying a refreshing coolness.

Her mood was excellent.

Takahashi Saeko let out a sigh of relief and smiled. "Iroha, it looks like you've finally figured things out."

"Yes, Saeko, I've completely figured it out."

"Congratulations."

Tama Chan beamed with happiness.

Miyahara Kaoru offered with a smile, "Let me buy you all drinks. What would you like?"

"Orange juice," said Saeko.

"Strawberry juice," said Iroha.

"Yogurt," said Tama Chan.

"No problem."

Miyahara Kaoru jogged to the vending machine.

Takahashi Saeko patted Ayatsuki Ayaka's shoulder, relieved. "It's good you've worked things out. There are plenty of men with two legs out there."

"Saeko, I'm going to reform Aozawa and pull him back to a normal sense of values. I'm aiming for monogamy."

Ayatsuki Ayaka's face was full of fighting spirit as she said resolutely, "You guys have to help me!"

The smiles on their faces instantly froze.

After a moment, Takahashi Saeko couldn't help but remark, "Iroha, you always manage to exceed my expectations, haha."

She laughed, feeling like a fool for worrying all night about Iroha accepting Aozawa's terms, even having nightmares about it.

Now it seemed that Iroha was truly Iroha, always able to bring surprises.

Ayatsuki Ayaka blinked, not sure why Saeko had suddenly laughed, but judging by her expression, she took it as a compliment.

"In any case, from now on, don't speak ill of Aozawa. Him turning out this way isn't what he wanted; it must have been Morimoto Chiyoda who ingrained those thoughts in him.

If I keep my distance from him, wouldn't I just be playing into that woman's scheme?"

Tama Chan shook her head. "I don't think that's the case."

"It definitely is!"

Ayatsuki Ayaka leaned close to Tama Chan, her cheeks puffed out, trying to pressure her with a glare.

Tama Chan pursed her lips, wanting to give her a kiss.

Ayatsuki Ayaka quickly pulled her head back, her face turning red. "Maru, what are you trying to do?"

"The answer is obvious: to give my precious little baby a kiss. You leaned in so close, weren't you trying to tempt me?"

Tama Chan hooked a finger under Iroha's chin, a mischievous smile on her face.

Ayatsuki Ayaka swatted her hand away, saying irritably, "I'm not a man, you know!"

"If it's Iroha, I don't mind~"

Tama Chan's face was all smiles.

A surge of killing intent radiated from behind.

"Maru, that joke isn't very funny," Miyahara Kaoru said with a smile, though her grip on the orange juice can tightened as if she might crush it. "Perhaps we should make fewer jokes like that in the future."

"Kaoru, I might not be joking. Who knows, maybe I really do have bisexual tendencies."

Tama Chan tilted her head, her auburn waves spilling over her shoulder, her face displaying a smile as innocent as a spring.

"Wow, yogurt!"

Ayatsuki Ayaka quickly stepped between them. She wasn't sure why Miyahara Kaoru and Tama Chan were acting that way, but she knew that when the four of them hung out, conflicts were sometimes inevitable.

At times like this, it was her role to interject with some lightheartedness and dispel the strange atmosphere.

Miyahara Kaoru looked away and handed a yogurt to Ayatsuki Ayaka. "Here, you can have my yogurt," she said.

"Thanks for the treat, boss!"

Ayatsuki Ayaka bowed, taking Kaoru's words as a reminder of who was paying.

Takahashi Saeko shook her head.

She hadn't supported Miyahara Kaoru's feelings at first.

But now, between Aozawa and Miyahara Kaoru, the latter seemed better, at least wholly dedicated.

But upon careful consideration, neither was a good candidate.

Takahashi Saeko heaved a silent sigh.

Emotional matters are difficult for an outsider to meddle in.

All she could do was help Iroha fulfill her wish to successfully reform Aozawa's character.

Or perhaps... use herself as bait to hook Aozawa?

Her eyes flickered, a plan forming in her mind.